Amaranthus cruentus (blood amaranth, "Sugimorigeito")

Japanese name: スギモリゲイトウ
Scientific name: Amaranthus cruentus

[Overview]
An annual growing about 2 m tall.
The whole plant is tinged with red, though some are green.
The stem is thick and erect.
Leaves are simple and alternate, lanceolate to elliptic, and soft in texture.
The leaf margins are entire.
A very large spike-like inflorescence, as much as 1 m long, emerges from the stem tip.
The flowers are small, red, and densely borne.
The fruit is a utricle.

[Uses]
The whole plant is used medicinally, and the flowers are used as a red dye.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)